UN panel to probe Lebanon 'rights abuses'

The UN Human Rights Council has appointed three commissioners to investigate whether Israel committed systematic human rights abuses in Lebanon.

The inquiry was created last month at a special session of the council, which condemned Israel for “massive bombardment of Lebanese civilian populations” and other “systematic” human rights violations, and decided to send a commission to investigate.

The three investigators – a Brazilian diplomat, a Tanzanian judge and a Greek professor – should “investigate the alleged systematic targeting and killings of civilians by Israel”.

Its task is also to “examine the types of weapons used by Israel and their conformity with international law, and assess the extent and deadly impact of Israeli attacks on human life, property, critical infrastructure and environment".

It will comprise Brazil’s Clemente Baena Soares, a former secretary general of the Organisation of American States; Mohamed Chande Othman, who sits on Tanzania’s supreme court; and Stelios Perrakis, a professor of international studies and a member of the Council of Europe, the continent’s human rights watchdog.

The UN rights body voted on August 11 by 27-11 to create the inquiry. European countries, Japan and Canada voted against the resolution, primarily because it lacked balance in failing to name the Hezbollah militia.

The United States, which is an observer, has no vote on the 47-member council.